It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2 (resumed), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. In accordance with the decision of the Dáil last Thursday, proceedings on item No. 2 will be confined to the conclusion of the debate by the Minister for Industry and Energy. By agreement, there will be no Private Members' Business this week.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal to dispense with Private Members' Business this week agreed?
Agreed. I wish to ask the Taoiseach about item No. 6, the Bankruptcy Bill, 1982. I have suggested already that that is a Bill that clearly should go to a Special Committee. Does that process recommend itself to the Government?
That is a matter for consideration by the Whips. I have an open mind on it. On the face of it it seems a constructive suggestion but it should be discussed between the Whips.
Last Wednesday I attempted to ask the Taoiseach if he intended to make a statement on the recent meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs with Mr. Prior. The Chair ruled the matter out of order——
Last Wednesday the Chair ruled that it was not an appropriate matter to raise.
I sought the advice of the Chair on the matter and asked if it could be taken as a Private Notice Question but that was ruled out of order as well.
The Chair will go one step further with the Deputy. If the Deputy would like to call to the Chair's office the Chair will discuss the matter.
Certainly. I took the advice of the office and they said it would appear as the first item on the Order Paper today at Question Time. I find it buried away as Question No. 201 to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I regard that as most unfair. It is a critically important matter. I raised it as a subject that Mr. Prior referred to — questions relating to the establishment of an all-Ireland police force.
The Deputy is out of order.
May I, with your permission ——
May I ask a question?
The Deputy cannot pursue this matter.
I am not going to, but may I ask a question?
A short question, yes.
I want at least to find the criterion as to what pertains to a Private Notice Question.
The Chair communicated with the Deputy explaining why the matter was ruled out of order for a Private Notice Question and it is not customary or advisable for the Chair to discuss the Chair's ruling across the floor. If the Deputy wishes to have a discussion on this he is very welcome to come to my office and I will discuss it with him.
Why was the question transferred from the Taoiseach's time?
The Chair has no control over which Minister takes a question. It is a question of collective responsibility and it is a matter for the Ministers to decide which Minister will answer a certain question.
With your permission, may I raise the subject matter on the Adjournment?
I will certainly communicate with the Deputy.
In spite of the statements by Deputy Manning and Minister of State O'Brien, I was very pleased today when the Chief Whip for the Government told me that item No. 10, the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Bill, was continuing with the same wording. Can the Taoiseach tell me whether this will be a free vote within Fine Gael or whether the Whips will be on for that vote?
That is not a relevant question.
Deputies
It is.
It is already on the record.
We will be talking later today about Dáil reform. Surely the question that Deputy Brady and Deputy Ahern have asked here is part of the process of open government that we have been promised. You, Sir, on assuming the Chair here indicated that you would accept a liberalisation of the type of questions we are now putting to you and apparently you are not doing this.
The Deputy is out of order. He is making a speech on the Chair's ruling and the Chair will not have that.
I appeal to you, Sir, and I will never be disorderly. I know the Taoiseach believes fully in open government. It would be of help to me as Chief Whip of the Opposition to know if there will be a vote on this matter or whether his party have decided if it will be a free vote.
A Deputy
That is a good try.
The Chair does not see how that is relevant on the Order of Business.
Is there some embarrassment for the Taoiseach?
If Deputy Ahern wishes to join our party ——
I hope Deputy Fitzgerald is not making any improper suggestion in the question.
I want to give notice of my intention to rise on the Adjournment the refusal by the Minister for Justice to repeat an assurance given by a previous Taoiseach that telephones of Dáil Deputies are not being tapped.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy De Rossa.
I have one further question to the Minister for the Environment as to when he intends to bring in regulations under section 26 of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act.
I have had no prior notice but I will communicate with the Deputy in due course.
I understand that under the Act as passed last year the Minister is obliged to bring in these regulations. At present landlords are not being required to bring their properties up to standard despite the fact that they are getting market rents for them.